Armenian Companies in Talks with Azerbaijan to Import Azerbaijani Fuel

Grigoryan also said that the discussions were ongoing regarding the mutual trade of other goods.

The announcement came amidst speculation that Georgia may be hampering efforts to establish trade between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Earlier in December, the Armenian Economy Ministry confirmed it held discussions with Georgia on the possible first transit of Azerbaijani fuel through Georgian territory.

Georgian authorities said they had approved requests from “partner countries” for a one-time transit, charging no tariffs.

This came in response to an article on Minval.az, a pro-government Azerbaijani media outlet, suggesting that Georgia was demanding exorbitant tariffs for Azerbaijani oil and petroleum products bound for Armenia. They called this an example of Tbilisi trying “to break the peace” in the region, adding that  Georgia “cannot afford the luxury of ignoring” the interests of Azerbaijan.

According to Minval.az, Georgia was demanding payment of $0.82 per ton per kilometer for the transit of fuel to Armenia.

They compared this to $0.02 per ton per kilometer charged by Azerbaijan for shipments from Russia to Georgia, and the $0.04–$0.05 per ton per kilometer charged by Georgia for fuel heading to ports on Georgia’s Black Sea coast.

The reopening of transport routes has been one of the key and most sensitive issues in ongoing peace negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

In November, Armenia received wheat by rail through Azerbaijan and Georgia —  first from Russia, then from Kazakhstan — a historic development as the two countries continue moving forward in their peace process.